POLICE in Royton are hunting a sex attacker who allegedly raped a woman as she made her way home from a night out in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

The 42-year-old woman had been drinking with friends at a local bar and at 12.50am had been to get a takeaway pizza and had started to walk the 15 minute journey to her home address along Oldham Road.

As the woman neared the junction of Crompton Street, opposite the bus terminus, she was approached by a man who pushed her over a small fence and pulled her into a grassed area which was surrounded by bushes. The man then took his T-shirt off and seriously sexually assaulted her. Police say the attack is being investigated as a rape.

He left the scene when he was disturbed by a male passerby who came to the woman's aid. The woman was then taken to hospital by the man and his girlfriend.

The man is described as being white, between 25-30 years old, of slim to stocky build with dark hair which was shaved at the sides and back but with a 'gelled' fringe. He was wearing a white short sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans, he spoke with a local accent.

A police spokesperson said: "This was an horrendous attack on a 42-year-old woman who had enjoyed a night out with her friends. The incident has left her extremely shaken and we desperately would like to catch this man.

"The offender was disturbed before he had chance to put his white T-shirt back on so he ran off along Oldham Road bare chested holding his T-shirt in his hand. Oldham Road is quite a busy road and we believe that someone must have seen this man who would have been quite noticeable."

If anyone does have information regarding this incident they are asked to contact Oldham CID on 0161 856 8940 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.